Print straightener



s. .JQHOPSON El AL PRINT STRAIGHTENER Filed Dec. 17, 1925* Sept. 14 1926.

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Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES SEYMOUR J. HQPSON, 0E OMAHA,

PATENT OFFICE.

NEBRASKA, AND GEORGE A. DRUCKER, OF CHICAGO,

PRINT STRAIGHTENER.

. Application filed December 17, 1925. Serial No. 75,963.

This invention relates to improvements in print straightener particularly adapted, though not necessarily limited in its use in connection with photographic work for straightening or flatteningthe curled or rolled prints whereby the print may be delivered in a flat condition, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus of this character which will be simple, durable and compact in construction and effective and efficient in operation.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the Construction, combination and arrange ment of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing illustrating this invention, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved device of this character constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 22, Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing tne numeral designates generally a base or supporting board which may be of any desired size and configuration suitable for the purpose.

Mounted upon the board by means of suitable bearings or brackets 11 is roller 12 I preferably provided with a spring 13 therein so that the roller will be of a spring roller t pc.

The roller may be of any desired length and of any desired diameter.

A roller 14, preferably of a smaller diameter is mounted in suitable brackets 15. This roller 14 is spaced from and is arranged parallel with the roller 12, and the rollers 12 and 14 may be spaced from each other for any desired distance to accommodate prints of different lengths;

Secured to each of the rollers 12 and 14 is one end of a flexible member 16 constructed of any suitable material, and the member 16 is adapted to be wound upon one of the rollers as it is unwound from the other roller.

The roller 14 is preferably provided with an extension 17 about which extension a flex ible member 18 is adapted to be wound. One

end of the flexible member 18 is secured to the extension 17 and from the extension 17 of the roller 14 the flexible member 18 passes over a suitable pulley 19, and connected with the free end of the member 18 is a knob or handle 20. a

If desired a suitable guide 21 may be provided preferably adjacent the pulley 19 and through which guide the runs of the flexible member 18 pass.

The spring of the roller 12 is such that it normally tends to wind the flexible member 16 upon the roller 12 and off of the roller 14, and at the same time to cause the flexible member 18 to be wound upon the extension 17 of the roller 14.

in use a print 22 is placed upon the flexible member or sheet 16 in a position that one edge thereof will pass between the flexible sheet 16 and the roller 14. The print may be held in its initial position by lightly pressmg thereupon with the hand. The handle or bulb 20 is then grasped by the other hand and the flexible member 18 is drawn off of the extension 17 of the roller 14. This operation will cause the roller 14 to rotate and will wind the flexible sheet 16 together with the print 22 upon the roller 14.

At the same time and as the flexible sheet 16 is being withdrawn or unwound from the roller 12 the spring 13 in the roller 12 will be placed under a further tension or stress so that when the bulb or handle 20 is released or the stress is removed therefrom, the spring in the roller 12 will cause the flexible sheet 16 to be wound upon the roller 12 and off of the roller 14, thereby placing the print 22 in a position to be removed, and at the same time the rotation of the roller 14 will cause the end of the flexible member 18 to be wound upon the extension 17 thereof.

With this improved construction there will be produced an effective and efficient de vice whereby the curled or rolled prints may be straightened or flattened so that the prints maybe delivered in a flat condition.

vVliile the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and described t is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention, and if desired and instead of operating the device by hand, any suitable foot power mechanism (not shown) may be employed for the purpose.

What is claimed as new is 1. A print straightener embodying spaced parallel rollers, a flexible sheet adapted to be alternately wound upon one of the roll ers from the other roller, means tending normally to wind the sheet upon one of the rollers, and means for winding the sheet upon the other roller and against the stress of the first said means. i

2. A print straightener embodying spaced parallel rollers, a flexible sheet adapted to be alternately wound upon one of the rollers from the other roller, means tending normally to wind the sheet upon one of the rollers, and means for winding the sheet upon the other roller and against the stress of the first said means, the second recited means embodying provisions whereby the extent of winding of the flexible sheet from one roller to the other may be controlled at will.

3. A print straightener embodying a spring roller, a roller spaced from and parallel to the spring roller, a flexible sheet connected with each of the rollers, the spring roller tending normally to wind the sheet thereupon, and means for rotating the other roller to wind the sheet thereupon and from the spring roller against the stress of the latter.

4. A printstraightener embodying a spring roller, a roller spaced from and parallel to the spring roller, a flexible sheet connected with each of the rollers, the spring roller tending normally to wind the sheet thereupon, and means for rotating the other roller to wind the sheet thereupon and from the spring roller against the stress of the latter, the said means including a flexible element wound about a portion of the second recited roller and adapted to be unwound therefrom.

5. A print straightener embodying a spring roller, a roller spaced therefrom and parallel thereto, a flexible sheet connected with both of the rollers and adapted to be wound upon one of the rollers as it is unwound trom the other roller, said spring roller tending normally to wind the sheet thereupon, and a flexible member adapted to be unwound from the other roller to wind the sheet thereupon, the said spring roller tending normally to wind the said flexible member upon the other roller.

6. A print straightener embodying spaced parallel rollers, a flexible sheet connected therewith and adapted to be wound from one roller upon the other roller, and means individual to the rollers for separately rotating them.

'7. A print straightener embodying spaced parallel rollers, a flexible sheet connected therewith and adapted to be wound from one roller upon the other roller, and means individual to the rollerstor separately rotating them, the rotating means "for one oi? the rollers embodying a string like member adapted to be wound thereupon as the tiers ible sheet is wound therefrom and to be unwound from the roller to rotate the latter to wind the sheet thereupon.

8. A print straightener embodying a pair of spaced rollers, a flexible sheet connected with both of the rollers and adapted to be wound upon one of the rollers as it is unwound from the other roller, means for rotating one of the rollers, and means for ro tating the other roller, each of the said roller rotating means being rendered active while the other is being rendered inactive.

9. A print straightener embodying a pair of spaced rollers, a flexible sheet connected with both of the rollers and adapted to be wound upon one of the rollers as it is unwound i'rom the other roller, means for retating one of the rollers, and means for rotating the other roller, each of the said roller rotating means being rendered active while the other is being rendered inactive, the print to be straightened beingplaced upon the said sheet to be wound therewith upon one of the rollers.

10. A print straightener embodying a pair of spaced rollers, a flexible sheet connected with both of the rollers and adapted to be wound upon one of the rollers as it is unwound from the other roller, means for rotating one of the rollers, and means for rotating the other roller, each of the said roller rotating means being rendered active while the other is being rendered inactive, the print to be straightened being placed upon the said sheet to be wound with the said sheet upon and from one of the rollers.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this speclfication, on this 8th day 01" November, A. D. 1925.

SEYMOUR J. HOPSON. GEORGE A. DRUCKER. 

